How can the European Union affect the reform of the economic and welfare policies of its member states? What difference do the EU's mix of 'hard law' and 'soft law' instruments make? What constrains domestic adaptation to such policies? These general questions are explored in an innovative case study of one of the most recalcitrant member states of the EU: Greece. Why has Greece encountered so much difficulty in adapting to core EU policies, as well as the Lisbon 2000 programme?
Based on extensive empirical investigation, the book explores three highly sensitive policy agendas: pensions; the labour market; and, privatization. It analyses the conflicts over policy and process and considers how well the conceptual frames of Europeanization and of 'varieties of capitalism' explain the constraints on reform. It highlights key systematic features affecting interests and representation. These are far more consequential factors than personalities or even party. Greece faces a long-term problem of Governance.
'Everyone who is puzzled by the political trajectories of European integration and the dilemmas of Greek politics and public policy should read this book. Featherstone and Papadimitriou bring the theoretical framework of Europeanization to bear on the empirical analysis of political change in Greece, covering political structures as well as policy dynamics. Their conclusions will interest all scholars of European integration and comparative public policy, as well as students taking Masters programmes in European Union politics and European politics and society.' - Claudio Radaelli, Director, Centre for European Governance, and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Policy Analysis, Exeter University, UK
'...a concise but rich description of basic approaches and methodological problems that characterise the research field of Europeanisation...Featherstone and Papadimitriou enrich the poor literature on Greece and the Mediterranean countries model and go a long way towards contributing to upgrading the Europeanisation research agenda.' - Dimitris Bourikos, University of Athens, South European Society and Politics
Introduction
The Europeanization Process and the Greek Political System
The Domestic Constraints in Reform
Whose Benefits? The Elusive Reform of the Greek Pension System
The Puzzle of Jobless Growth: The Challenge of Reforming the Greek Labour Market
Destination Nowhere: Restructuring Olympic Airways/Airlines
Conclusions
KEVIN FEATHERSTONE is the Eleftherios Venizelos Professor of Contemporary Greek Studies at the London School of Economics, UK, and Director of the LSE's Hellenic Observatory. He has published extensively on EU politics and Greek politics. His books include The Road to Maastricht: Negotiating Economic and Monetary Union (with K. Dyson), The Politics of Europeanization (edited with C. Radaelli); Politics and Policy in Greece: The Challenge of Modernisation (editor).
DIMITRIS PAPADIMITRIOU is Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester and a Research Associate at the Hellenic Observatory at the London School of Economics, UK. He has previously held research and teaching posts at the Universities of Bradford, Leeds, the London School of Economics and Princeton University. He has published widely on EU enlargement and Greek Politics. His books include Romania and the European Union: From Marginalisation to Membership and Negotiating the New Europe.
Description
How can the European Union affect the reform of the economic and welfare policies of its member states? What difference do the EU's mix of 'hard law' and 'soft law' instruments make? What constrains domestic adaptation to such policies? These general questions are explored in an innovative case study of one of the most recalcitrant member states of the EU: Greece. Why has Greece encountered so much difficulty in adapting to core EU policies, as well as the Lisbon 2000 programme?
Based on extensive empirical investigation, the book explores three highly sensitive policy agendas: pensions; the labour market; and, privatization. It analyses the conflicts over policy and process and considers how well the conceptual frames of Europeanization and of 'varieties of capitalism' explain the constraints on reform. It highlights key systematic features affecting interests and representation. These are far more consequential factors than personalities or even party. Greece faces a long-term problem of Governance.
Reviews
'Everyone who is puzzled by the political trajectories of European integration and the dilemmas of Greek politics and public policy should read this book. Featherstone and Papadimitriou bring the theoretical framework of Europeanization to bear on the empirical analysis of political change in Greece, covering political structures as well as policy dynamics. Their conclusions will interest all scholars of European integration and comparative public policy, as well as students taking Masters programmes in European Union politics and European politics and society.' - Claudio Radaelli, Director, Centre for European Governance, and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Policy Analysis, Exeter University, UK
'...a concise but rich description of basic approaches and methodological problems that characterise the research field of Europeanisation...Featherstone and Papadimitriou enrich the poor literature on Greece and the Mediterranean countries model and go a long way towards contributing to upgrading the Europeanisation research agenda.' - Dimitris Bourikos, University of Athens, South European Society and Politics
Contents
Introduction
The Europeanization Process and the Greek Political System
The Domestic Constraints in Reform
Whose Benefits? The Elusive Reform of the Greek Pension System
The Puzzle of Jobless Growth: The Challenge of Reforming the Greek Labour Market
Destination Nowhere: Restructuring Olympic Airways/Airlines
Conclusions
Authors
KEVIN FEATHERSTONE is the Eleftherios Venizelos Professor of Contemporary Greek Studies at the London School of Economics, UK, and Director of the LSE's Hellenic Observatory. He has published extensively on EU politics and Greek politics. His books include The Road to Maastricht: Negotiating Economic and Monetary Union (with K. Dyson), The Politics of Europeanization (edited with C. Radaelli); Politics and Policy in Greece: The Challenge of Modernisation (editor).
DIMITRIS PAPADIMITRIOU is Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester and a Research Associate at the Hellenic Observatory at the London School of Economics, UK. He has previously held research and teaching posts at the Universities of Bradford, Leeds, the London School of Economics and Princeton University. He has published widely on EU enlargement and Greek Politics. His books include Romania and the European Union: From Marginalisation to Membership and Negotiating the New Europe.
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